Hiranyavarna Mahavihara
The Golden Temple
Lalitpur, Nepal
The Golden Temple is a Buddhist Monastery based on the three pillars, The Buddha,
The Dharma and the Sangha. Popularly known as the Tri Ratna, it means the three
jewels, The Buddha (wisdom), Dharma (the right path) and Sangha (the unity of
virtuous people). It is said if we human beings follow the Tri Ratna, our life
will be peaceful and we can ultimately help all others as well. With a membership
of 5,000 Vajracharya and Shakya members, a direct blood lineage of Shakyamuni
Buddha himself, it is a Buddhist Monastery of both Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.
The monastery has a history of 2,000 years plus and is also an example of the
peaceful co-existence between Vedic and Buddhist Spiritual thought. The Buddhist
daily rituals are still continuing according to its ancient traditions.
Possibly the only center in the Buddhist World where Pragynaparamita is a living
tradition is here at the Golden Temple. Here the daily practice acts to maintain
the dharma between the incarnations of Buddha, Shakyamuni to Maitreya.
"Kwabaha" as the temple is commonly referred to in the Newari language,
contains an archive of rare detailed authentic records which are kept stored
and unseen. These include palm leaf documents, inscriptions on copper plate
and stone and more.
It is said that many documents of religious, cultural and historical value
are to be found in the archives of Kwabaha.
In November of 2006 During the “Prayers for Peace Dharshan” H.
H. Jetsun Gyalwa Jampa Gonpo, Tibetan for The Buddha Maitreya, was spontaneously
invited for a ceremony of Recognition and honor at the Golden Temple.
The Temple elders were introduced to His Holiness from Dr.
B. P. Upreti a member of the Mautgalwan clan. Mautgalwan, as you know, was
the Seer, Guru of Sakyamuni clan, one of the first of Buddha's disciples. They
then consulted their ancient, rare, archives for records and came up with information
which led them to recognize him as the first incarnation of Milarepa; The Golden
Temple received H.H. Gyalwa Jampa The Jetsun Milarepa, as the reincarnation
of the Great Saint, in a one of a kind ceremony and received him as teacher
of the temples practitioners once again. It was a beautiful sunny day in Nepal,
and Newari musicians led the escort on foot through Dhurbar Square, with several
cars carrying His Holiness and the 35 Western Students who attended close behind.
Cars are not allowed in Dhurbar Square, but special permission was given by
the Nepal Government for this great saint, who according to their ancient records
had strong ties there and would come back again. The Temple elders presented
His Holiness with a bronze metal plaque etched in the Newari and English languages
which is found Recognitions
and Photo Gallery sections
of this website. The temple practitioners are householders and many of them
especially the women came to offer their respect and a kada to His Holiness
The joy on their faces and the whispered tones of loving reverence were remarkable.
Even the translator remarked hearing so many of them saying that they where
so happy to meet the real Saint Milarepa
During the ceremony a rare story of Milarepa, relating to this temple was presented
and translated to the Western group by Dr.
B. P. Upreti. This
story bears a striking similarity to incidents
in the life of the precious saint Guru Rinpoche.
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